England vs Croatia team news: Trippier start at left-back, Grealish on bench - The Athletic

What is the starting line-up for England vs Croatia?

England's starting XI: Pickford, Walker, Rice, Stones, Kane, Sterling, Trippier, Phillips, Mings, Mount, Foden

Why Trippier?

Trippier started the warm-up fixture against Austria in the left-back berth and then played the final 24 minutes of the second warm-up game against Romania in the same position.

At the time, the unusual position for Trippier had been thought to be because both Manchester United’s Luke Shaw and Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell were unavailable for selection following their club exertions in the Europa League and Champions League finals respectively.

Shaw did play 66 minutes of the 1-0 win against Romania but Chilwell, along with all Chelsea and Manchester City players, missed the two warm-up games after being allocated more time to recover.

Yet, despite Shaw and Chilwell joining the group, Trippier is starting on the left of a back four, with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker favoured ahead of Chelsea’s Reece James on the right side and Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings partnering City’s John Stones at the heart of the defence.

What about the rest of the defence?

Mings’ starting place had been under doubt following his display against Romania and Ben White’s impressive performance.

In addition, England are reported to have focused in some sessions on a three-man defence that may have seen Wolves’ Connor Coady or Shaw favoured as part of a back three in the absence of Harry Maguire through injury.

But Southgate went for Mings as the left centre-back, with Walker on the right and John Stones partnering the Villa man.

What about further forward?

Much of the anticipation has centered on how Southgate intends to use his array of attacking options. The manager will start with Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling playing in behind Harry Kane.

Sterling’s starting place means that Marcus Rashford, who captained England against Romania and scored the winner, is expected to be on the bench.

Rashford had missed the last two training England camps through injury before joining up with Southgate's squad earlier this month. The only game he has so far started for England at a major tournament was the 1-0 dead rubber defeat by Belgium in Kaliningrad at the 2018 World Cup.

One of the most debated calls will be over Grealish, who has dazzled in recent England appearances. Southgate’s caution over his defence, however, appears to have led him to select two holding midfielders, as West Ham’s Declan Rice will be partnered by Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the middle. Jordan Henderson, who gained some minutes against Romania, is not yet deemed fit to start.

(Photo: By Visionhaus/Getty Images)

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